Bible: Exodus 4-14

The Source of Sufficiency

Mosesansweredagain,2 “And if3they do notbelieveme orpay attentionto me,4butsay, ‘The Lordhas notappearedtoyou’?”4:2The Lordsaidtohim, “What isthat in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”54:3The Lord6 said, “Throwit to the ground.” So he threwit to the ground, and it becamea snake,7and Mosesranfrom it.4:4But the LordsaidtoMoses, “Put outyour handand grabit by the tail” – so he put outhis handand caughtit, and it becamea staffin his hand8 –4:5“thatthey may believethatthe Lord, the Godof their fathers, the Godof Abraham, the Godof Isaac, and the Godof Jacob, has appearedtoyou.”

4:6The Lordalsosaidto him, “Putyour handinto your robe.”9So he put his handinto his robe, and when he broughtit out– there was his hand,10leprouslike snow!114:7He said, “Put your handbackinto your robe.” So he put his handbackinto his robe, and when he brought it outfrom his robe– thereit was,12 restored13like the rest of his skin!144:8“If15they do notbelieveyou orpay attentionto16 the formersign, then they may17 believethe lattersign.184:9And if19they do notbelieveeventhesetwosignsorlistento you,20then take21some waterfrom the Nileand pourit outon the dry ground. The wateryou take outof the Nilewill becomebloodon the dryground.”22

4:14Then the Lordbecame angrywith37 Moses, and he said, “What about38 your brotherAaronthe Levite?39 I knowthathe canspeakvery well.40 Moreover, he iscoming41to meetyou, and when he seesyou he will be gladin his heart.42

4:15 “So you are to speaktohim and putthewordsin his mouth. And as for me, Iwill bewithyour mouth43and withhis mouth,44and I will teachyou both45 whatyou must do.464:16He47will speakfor you tothe people, and it will beas if48 he49 were your mouth50and as if youwerehis God.514:17You will also takein your handthisstaff, with whichyou will dothe signs.”52

4:24Nowon the way, at a place where they stoppedfor the night,76 the LordmetMoses and soughtto killhim.774:25But Zipporahtooka flintknife, cut offthe foreskinof her sonand touchedit to Moses’ feet,78and said, “Surelyyouare a bridegroomof blood79to me.”4:26So the Lord80 lethim alone. (At that time81she said, “A bridegroomof blood,” referring to82 the circumcision.)

4:27The Lordsaid83toAaron, “Goto the wildernessto meetMoses. So he wentand methim at the mountainof God84and greeted him with a kiss.854:28MosestoldAaronallthe wordsof the Lordwho had86senthim and allthe signsthathe hadcommandedhim.4:29Then Mosesand Aaronwentand brought togetherallthe Israeliteelders.874:30Aaronspoke88allthe wordsthatthe Lordhad spokentoMosesand didthe signsin the sightof the people,4:31and the peoplebelieved. When they heard89thatthe Lordhad attendedto90 the Israelitesand thathe had seentheir affliction, they bowed downclose to the ground.91

5:1

Opposition to the Plan of God

AfterwardMosesand AaronwenttoPharaohand said, “Thussays the Lord,93 the Godof Israel, ‘Release94my peopleso that they may hold a pilgrimfeast95 to me in the desert.’”5:2But Pharaohsaid, “Whois the Lord96that97I should obeyhim98by releasing99Israel? I do notknowthe Lord,100 and I will notreleaseIsrael!”5:3And they said, “The Godof the Hebrewshas metwith us. Let us goa three-dayjourney101into the desertso that we may sacrifice102to the Lordour God, sothat he does not strikeus with plagueorthe sword.”1035:4The kingof Egyptsaidtothem, “Mosesand Aaron, whydo you cause the peopleto refrainfrom their work?104 Returnto your labor!”5:5Pharaohwas thinking,105 “The peopleof the landare nowmany, and you are giving them restfrom their labor.”

5:6That same dayPharaohcommanded106the slave mastersand foremen107who were108 over the people:1095:7“You must nolonger110givestrawto the peoplefor makingbricks111as before.112Letthemgo113and collectstrawfor themselves.5:8But you must require114 of them the same quotaof bricksthattheywere makingbefore.115Do notreduceit, forthey areslackers.116That is whytheyare crying, ‘Let us gosacrificeto our God.’5:9Makethe work harder117for the menso they will keepat it118 and pay noattentionto lyingwords!”119

The Israeliteforemenwentand cried outtoPharaoh, “Whyare you treating130your servantsthisway?5:16Nostrawis givento your servants, but we are told,131 ‘Makebricks!’ Your servantsare even132being beaten, but the fault133is with your people.”

5:17But Pharaohreplied,134 “You are slackers! Slackers!135 That is whyyouare saying, ‘Let us gosacrificeto the Lord.’5:18So now, get backto work!136 You will notbe givenstraw, but you must still produce137 your quota138of bricks!”5:19The Israeliteforemensaw139thatthey140 were in troublewhenthey were told,141 “You must notreducethe dailyquota of your bricks.”

5:20When they went outfrom Pharaoh, they encounteredMosesand Aaronstandingthere to meetthem,1425:21and they saidtothem, “May the Lordlookonyou and judge,143becauseyou have made us stink144in the opinionof145Pharaohand his servants,146so that you have giventhem an excuseto killus!”147

5:22

The Assurance of Deliverance

Mosesreturned149tothe Lord, and said, “Lord,150whyhave you causedtrouble for thispeople?151 Whydid you ever152sendme?5:23From the timeI wenttospeaktoPharaohin your name, he has causedtrouble153 for thispeople, and you have certainlynotrescued154them!”155

6:1Then the Lordsaid toMoses, “Nowyou will seewhatI will doto Pharaoh,156forcompelledby my strong hand157he will releasethem, and by my stronghandhe will drivethem out of his land.”158

6:2Godspoke159toMosesand saidto him, “I amthe Lord.1606:3I appearedtoAbraham, toIsaac, and toJacobas161 GodAlmighty,162but by163 my name‘the Lord’164I was notknownto them.1656:4I alsoestablishedmy covenantwiththem166 to givethem the landof Canaan, where they were livingasresident foreigners.1676:5I168have alsoheard169the groaningof the Israelites, whomthe Egyptiansare enslaving,170and I have rememberedmy covenant.1716:6Therefore, tellthe Israelites, ‘I amthe Lord. I will bring you out172from your enslavementto173 the Egyptians, I will rescueyou from the hard laborthey impose,174 and I will redeemyou with an outstretchedarmand with greatjudgments.6:7I will takeyou to myself for a people, and I will beyour God.175Then you will knowthatI amthe Lordyour God, who brought you outfrom your enslavementto176 the Egyptians.6:8I will bringyou tothe landI sworeto give177to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob– and I will giveit to you178 as a possession. I amthe Lord!’”

6:25Now Eleazarsonof Aaronmarriedone of the daughtersof Putieland she borehim Phinehas.

Theseare the headsof the fathers’ households196 of Leviaccording to their clans.

6:26It was the sameAaronand Mosesto whomthe Lordsaid, “Bringthe Israelitesout of the landof Egyptbytheir regiments.”1976:27Theywere the men who were speakingtoPharaohkingof Egypt, in order to bringthe Israelitesout of Egypt. It was the sameMosesand Aaron.

7:1So the LordsaidtoMoses, “See, I have madeyou like God205to Pharaoh, and your brotherAaronwill beyour prophet.2067:2Youare to speak207everythingI commandyou,208 and your brotherAaronis to tellPharaohthat he must release209theIsraelitesfrom his land.7:3But Iwill harden210Pharaoh’sheart, and although I will multiply211my signsand my wondersin the landof Egypt,7:4Pharaohwillnotlistentoyou.212 I will reach into213Egyptand bring outmy regiments,214my peoplethe Israelites, from the landof Egyptwith greatacts of judgment.7:5Then215 the Egyptianswill knowthatI amthe Lord, when I extendmy hand216overEgyptand bringthe Israelitesout from amongthem.

7:6And Mosesand Aarondid so; they didjustas the Lordcommandedthem.7:7Now Moseswas eightyyearsold and Aaronwas eighty-threeyearsold when they spoketoPharaoh.

7:8The Lordsaid217toMosesand Aaron,2187:9“When Pharaohsaysto you, ‘Do219 a miracle,’ and you saytoAaron, ‘Takeyour staffand throwit down220beforePharaoh,’ it will become221a snake.”7:10When222 Mosesand AaronwenttoPharaoh, they didso, justas the Lordhad commanded them – Aaron threw223 down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants and it became a snake.2247:11Then Pharaohalsosummonedwise menand sorcerers,225and the magicians226of Egyptby theirsecret arts227didthe same thing.7:12Each man228threw downhis staff, and the staffs becamesnakes. But Aaron’sstaffswallowed uptheir staffs.7:13Yet Pharaoh’sheartbecame hard,229 and he did notlistentothem, justas the Lordhad predicted.

7:14

The First Blow: Water to Blood

The LordsaidtoMoses, “Pharaoh’sheartis hard;231 he refusesto release232the people.7:15GotoPharaohin the morningwhen233he goesoutto the water. Positionyourself234 to meethim bythe edgeof the Nile,235and take236in your handthe staff237thatwas turnedinto a snake.7:16Tellhim, ‘The Lord, the Godof the Hebrews, has sentme toyou tosay,238 “Releasemy people, that they may serveme239 in the desert!” But untilnow240you have notlistened.2417:17Thussaysthe Lord: “By thisyou will knowthatI amthe Lord: Iamgoing to strike242the waterof the Nilewith the staffthatis in my hand, and it will be turnedinto blood.2437:18Fish244in the Nilewill die, the Nilewill stink, and the Egyptianswill be unable245to drinkwaterfromthe Nile.”’”7:19Then the Lordsaid toMoses, “TellAaron, ‘Takeyour staffand stretchout your handoverEgypt’swaters– overtheir rivers, overtheir canals,246overtheir ponds, and overalltheir reservoirs247 – so that it becomes248blood.’ There will bebloodeverywherein249 the landof Egypt, even in woodenand stonecontainers.”7:20Mosesand Aarondidso,250justas the Lordhad commanded. Moses raised251the staff252and struckthewaterthatwas in the Nileright beforethe eyes253of Pharaohand his servants,254and allthe waterthatwas in the Nilewas turnedto blood.2557:21When the fish256thatwere in the Niledied, the Nilebegan257 to stink, so that the Egyptianscouldnotdrinkwaterfromthe Nile. There wasblood258everywherein the landof Egypt!7:22But the magiciansof Egyptdidthe same259by their secret arts, and so260 Pharaoh’sheartremained hard,261 and he refusedto listentoMosesand Aaron262 – justas the Lordhad predicted.7:23And Pharaohturnedand wentintohis house. He did notpayany attentionto this.2637:24Allthe Egyptiansdugaroundthe Nilefor waterto drink,264becausethey couldnotdrinkthe waterof the Nile.

8:8Then Pharaohsummoned279Mosesand Aaronand said, “Pray280tothe Lordthat he may take the frogsaway281from meand my people, and I will release282thepeoplethat they may sacrifice283to the Lord.”8:9Mosessaidto Pharaoh, “You may have the honorover me284 – when shall I pray for you, your servants, and your people, for the frogs to be removed285 from you and your houses, so that286 they will be left287 only in the Nile?”8:10He said, “Tomorrow.” And Moses said,288 “It will be289 as you say,290so that you mayknowthatthere is noone like the Lordour God.8:11The frogswill departfromyou, your houses, your servants, and your people; they will be leftonlyin the Nile.”

8:12ThenMosesand Aaronwent out from Pharaoh, and Mosescried291tothe Lordbecauseof292 the frogsthat he hadbroughton293 Pharaoh.8:13The Lorddidas Moses asked294 – the295 frogs died out of the houses, the villages, and the fields.8:14The Egyptians296 piledthem in countlessheaps,297and the landstank.8:15But when Pharaohsawthatthere wasrelief,298he hardened299his heartand did notlistentothem, justas the Lordhad predicted.300

The Fourth Blow: Flies

The Lord311saidtoMoses, “Get up earlyin the morningand positionyourself beforePharaohas he goesoutto the water, and tellhim, ‘Thussaysthe Lord, “Releasemy peoplethat they may serveme!8:21Ifyou do notrelease312my people, then I am goingto send313swarms of flies314onyou and onyour servantsand onyour peopleand in your houses. Thehousesof the Egyptianswill be fullof flies, and eventhe groundtheystand on.3158:22But on that dayI will markoff316 thelandof Goshen, wheremy peopleare staying,317so that no swarms of flieswill bethere, that you mayknowthatI amthe Lordin the midstof this land.3188:23I will puta division319betweenmy peopleand your people. Thissignwill take place320 tomorrow.”’”8:24The Lorddidso; a321 thick322 swarm of fliescameinto323 Pharaoh’shouseand into the houses324of his servants, and throughout the wholelandof Egyptthe landwas ruined325because of the swarms of flies.

8:25Then PharaohsummonedMosesand Aaronand said, “Go, sacrificeto your Godwithin the land.”3268:26But Mosessaid, “That would notbe the rightthing to do,327forthe sacrificeswe make328 to the Lordour Godwould be an abomination329to the Egyptians.330Ifwe make sacrificesthat are an abominationto the Egyptiansright before their eyes,331will they notstoneus?3328:27We must go333on a three-dayjourney334into the desertand sacrifice335to the Lordour God, justas he is tellingus.”336

8:28Pharaohsaid, “Iwill releaseyou337 so that you may sacrifice338to the Lordyour Godin the desert. Onlyyou mustnotgovery far.339Do340 prayfor me.”

8:29Mosessaid, “Iamgoing to go out341from youand praytothe Lord, and the swarmsof flieswill go away fromPharaoh, from his servants, and from his peopletomorrow. Onlydo notlet Pharaohdeal falselyagain342by notreleasing343thepeopleto sacrificeto the Lord.”8:30So Moseswent outfrom Pharaohand prayedtothe Lord,8:31and the LorddidasMoses asked344 – he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people. Not one remained!8:32ButPharaohhardened345his heartthistimealsoand did notreleasethe people.

9:1

The Fifth Blow: Disease

Then the Lordsaid toMoses, “GotoPharaohand tellhim, ‘Thussaysthe Lord, the Godof the Hebrews, “Releasemy peoplethat they may serveme!9:2Forifyourefuseto releasethem347 and continueholdingthem,3489:3thenthe handof the Lordwillsurelybring349 averyterribleplague350on your livestockin the field, on the horses, the donkeys, the camels,351the herds, and the flocks.9:4Butthe Lordwill distinguish352betweenthe livestockof Israeland the livestockof Egypt, and nothing353will dieof allthat the Israeliteshave.”’”354

9:5The Lordset355an appointedtime, saying, “Tomorrowthe Lordwill do this356in the land.”9:6And the Lorddidthis357on the nextday;358 all359the livestockof the Egyptians360died, but of the Israelites’ livestocknotonedied.9:7Pharaohsentrepresentatives to investigate,361and indeed, notevenoneof the livestockof Israelhad died. ButPharaoh’sheartremained hard,362and he did notreleasethe people.

9:8

The Sixth Blow: Boils

Then the Lordsaidto Mosesand Aaron, “Takehandfulsof soot364from a furnace, and have Mosesthrowit365 into the airwhile Pharaohis watching.3669:9It will becomefine dustoverthe wholelandof Egyptand will cause boilsto breakout and fester367onboth peopleand animalsin allthe landof Egypt.”9:10So they tooksootfrom a furnaceand stoodbeforePharaoh, Mosesthrewit into the air, and it causedfesteringboilsto breakout on both peopleand animals.

9:11The magicianscouldnotstandbeforeMosesbecauseof the boils, forboilswereon the magiciansand on allthe Egyptians.9:12Butthe Lordhardened368Pharaoh’sheart, and he did notlistentothem, justas the Lordhad predictedtoMoses.

9:13

The Seventh Blow: Hail

The Lordsaid370toMoses, “Get up earlyin the morning, stand371beforePharaoh, and tellhim, ‘Thussaysthe Lord, the Godof the Hebrews: “Releasemy peopleso that they may serveme!9:14ForthistimeIwill sendallmy plagues372on your very self373and on your servantsand your people, so that you may knowthatthere is noone likeme in allthe earth.9:15Forby nowI could have stretched out374my handand struckyou and your peoplewith plague, and you would have been destroyed375fromthe earth.9:16But376forthispurposeI have caused you to stand:377 to showyou378 my strength, and sothat my namemay be declared379in allthe earth.9:17You are stillexalting380yourself against my peopleby381 notreleasingthem.9:18I am goingto cause veryseverehail to raindown382 about this timetomorrow, such hailas hasneveroccurred383 in Egyptfromthe dayit was founded384untilnow.9:19So now, sendinstructions385 to gather386your livestockand allyour possessions in the fieldsto a safe place. Everyperson387or animalcaught388in the fieldand notbroughtinto the house– the hailwill come downonthem, and they will die!”’”

9:22Then the Lordsaid toMoses, “Extendyour handtoward the sky394that there may be395hailin allthe landof Egypt, onpeopleand onanimals,396and oneverythingthat grows397in the fieldin the landof Egypt.”9:23When Mosesextended398his stafftoward thesky, the Lord399sent thunder400and hail, and firefell to the earth;401so the Lordcaused hailto raindown onthe landof Egypt.9:24Hailfell402 and firemingled403with the hail; the hail was sosevere404thatthere hadnotbeen any likeit405 in allthe landof Egyptsinceit had becomea nation.9:25The hailstruckeverythingin the open fields, both406 peopleand animals, throughout allthe landof Egypt. Thehailstruckeverythingthat grows407in the field, and it brokeallthe treesof the fieldto pieces.9:26Onlyin the landof Goshen, wherethe Israeliteslived, was therenohail.

9:27So Pharaohsentand summonedMosesand Aaronand saidto them, “I have sinnedthis time!408 The Lordis righteous, and Iand my peopleare guilty.4099:28Praytothe Lord, for the mighty410thunderingsand hailare too much!411 I will releaseyou and you will staynolonger.”412

9:29Mosessaidtohim, “When I leavethecity413I will spreadmy handstothe Lord, the thunderwill cease, and there will benomorehail, so that you mayknowthatthe earthbelongs to the Lord.4149:30But as for you415and your servants, I knowthatyou do not yetfear416the LordGod.”

9:31(Now the417 flaxand the barleywere struck418 by the hail,419forthe barleyhad ripened420and the flax421was in bud.9:32But the wheatand the spelt422were notstruck, forthey are later crops.)423

9:33So MosesleftPharaoh, went out of thecity, and spreadout his handstothe Lord, and the thunderand the hailceased, and the rainstoppedpouringon the earth.9:34When Pharaohsaw424thatthe rainand hailand thunderceased, he sinnedagain:425 both he and his servantshardened426their hearts.9:35So Pharaoh’sheartremained hard,427 and he did notreleasethe Israelites, as the LordhadpredictedthroughMoses.

10:1

The Eighth Blow: Locusts

The Lordsaid429toMoses, “GotoPharaoh, forIhave hardenedhis heartand the heartof his servants, in orderto display430thesesignsof minebefore him,43110:2and in orderthat in the hearingofyour sonand your grandsonyou may tell432 howI made fools433of the Egyptians434and about435my signsthatI displayed436among them, so that you may know437thatI amthe Lord.”

10:3So Mosesand AaroncametoPharaohand toldhim, “Thussaysthe Lord, the Godof the Hebrews: ‘Howlongdo you refuse438to humbleyourself beforeme?439 Releasemy peopleso that they may serveme!10:4But ifyourefuseto releasemy people, I am goingto bring440locusts441into your territory442tomorrow.10:5They will cover443the surface444of theearth, so that you445 will be unableto seetheground. They will eattheremainderof what escaped446 – what is left over447 for you – from the hail, and they will eat every tree that grows for you from the field.10:6They will fillyour houses, the housesof your servants, and allthe housesof Egypt, such as448 neither449your fathersnor your grandfathershave seensincethey have been450in the landuntilthisday!’” Then Moses451 turnedand went outfrom Pharaoh.

10:7Pharaoh’sservantssaidtohim, “How long452will thisman be a menace453to us? Releasethe peopleso that they may servethe Lordtheir God. Do you notknow454thatEgyptis destroyed?”

Then Pharaohquickly481summonedMosesand Aaronand said, “I have sinned482against the Lordyour Godand against you!10:17So now, forgivemy sinthis timeonly, and prayto the Lordyour Godthat he wouldonly483take thisdeath484away from me.”10:18Moses485 went out486from Pharaohand prayedtothe Lord,10:19and the Lordturneda verystrongwestwind,487and it pickedup the locustsand blewthem into the RedSea.488Notonelocustremainedin allthe territoryof Egypt.10:20Butthe LordhardenedPharaoh’sheart, and he did notreleasethe Israelites.

10:21

The Ninth Blow: Darkness

The LordsaidtoMoses, “Extendyour handtoward heaven490so that there may be491darknessoverthe landof Egypt, a darknessso thick it can be felt.”492

10:22So Mosesextendedhis handtoward heaven, and there wasabsolutedarkness493throughoutthe landof Egyptfor threedays.49410:23Noone495 could see496anotherperson, and noonecould risefrom his placefor threedays. But the Israeliteshad lightin the placeswhere they lived.

10:27Butthe LordhardenedPharaoh’sheart, and he was notwillingto releasethem.10:28Pharaohsaidto him, “Gofrom me!505 Watchout for yourself! Do notappearbeforeme again,506forwhen507you seemy faceyou will die!”10:29Mosessaid, “As you wish!508 I will notseeyour faceagain.”509

11:1

The Tenth Blow: Death

The LordsaidtoMoses, “I will bringonemoreplagueonPharaohand onEgypt; afterthathe will releaseyou from thisplace. Whenhe releasesyou,511 he will driveyou out completely512fromthisplace.11:2Instruct513the peoplethat each manand eachwomanis to request514from his or her neighbor515itemsof silverand gold.”516

11:4Mosessaid, “Thussaysthe Lord: ‘About midnight519Iwill go throughout Egypt,52011:5and allthe firstbornin the landof Egyptwill die, from the firstborn sonof Pharaoh521who sitsonhis throne, tothe firstborn sonof the slave girlwho is at her hand mill, and allthe firstbornof the cattle.11:6There will bea greatcrythroughout the wholelandof Egypt, suchas there has never been,522 norever will be again.52311:7But against anyof the Israelitesnotevena dogwill bark524against either people or animals,525so that you mayknowthatthe Lorddistinguishes526betweenEgyptand Israel.’11:8Alltheseyour servantswill come downtome and bow down527to me, saying, ‘Go, youand allthe peoplewhofollow528you,’ and afterthatI will go out.” Then Moses529 went outfromPharaohin greatanger.

The Institution of the Passover

The Lordsaid532toMosesand Aaronin the landof Egypt,53312:2“Thismonthis to be your beginningof months; it will be your firstmonthof the year.53412:3Tellthe wholecommunityof Israel, ‘In the tenthday of thismonththey each535must takea lamb536for themselves according to their families537 – a lambfor each household.53812:4Ifany householdis too small539for a lamb,540the man541and his next-doorneighbor542are to take543a lamb according to the numberof people– you will make your countfor the lambaccordingto how much each onecan eat.54412:5Your lambmust be545 perfect,546a male, one yearold;547you may take548it fromthe sheepor fromthe goats.12:6You must carefor it549 untilthe fourteenthdayof thismonth, and thenthe wholecommunity550of Israelwill kill it around sundown.55112:7They will takesomeof the bloodand putit onthe twoside posts and top of the doorframeof the houseswherethey will eatit.12:8They will eatthe meatthe same night;552they will eatit roastedover the firewith bread made without yeast553and with bitter herbs.12:9Do noteatit raw554or boiledin water, butroastit over the firewith its head, its legs, and its entrails.12:10You must leave nothinguntilmorning, but you must burnwith firewhatever remainsof ituntilmorning.12:11Thisis how you are to eat it – dressed to travel,555 your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You are to eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.556

12:12I will pass through557the landof Egyptin the same558night, and I will attack559allthe firstbornin the landof Egypt, both of humansand of animals,560and on allthe godsof EgyptI will executejudgment.561I amthe Lord.12:13The bloodwill bea signfor you onthe houseswhereyouare, so that when I see562thebloodI will passoveryou,563 and this plague564will notfall onyou to destroyyou565 when I attack566the landof Egypt.567

12:14Thisdaywill become568a memorial569for you, and you will celebrateit as a festival570to the Lord – you will celebrateit perpetuallyas a lastingordinance.57112:15For sevendays572you must eat573bread made without yeast.574Surely575onthe firstdayyou must putaway yeastfrom your housesbecauseanyonewho eatsbread made with yeast576from the firstdayto the seventhdaywill be cut off577from Israel.

12:16On the firstdaythere will be a holyconvocation,578and on the seventhdaythere will bea holyconvocationfor you. You must donoworkof any kind579on them, onlywhateverypersonwill eat– thatalonemay be preparedfor you.12:17So you will keepthe Feast of UnleavenedBread, becauseon this very580dayI brought your regiments581outfrom the landof Egypt, and so you must keepthisdayperpetuallyas a lastingordinance.58212:18In the firstmonth,583 from the fourteenthdayof the month, in the evening, you will eatbread made without yeastuntilthe twenty-firstdayof the monthin the evening.12:19For sevendays584yeastmust notbe foundin your houses, forwhoevereatswhat is made with yeast– that person585 will be cut offfrom the communityof Israel, whether a foreigner586or one bornin the land.12:20You will noteatanythingmade with yeast; in allthe placeswhere you live you must eatbread made without yeast.’”

12:21Then Mosessummonedallthe eldersof Israel, and toldthem, “Go and select587for yourselves a lamb or young goat588 for yourfamilies, and killthe Passover animals.58912:22Takea branchof hyssop,590dipit in the bloodthatis in the basin,591and applytothe top of the doorframeand the twoside posts someof the bloodthatis in the basin. Notone of youis to go out592the doorof his houseuntilmorning.12:23For the Lordwill passthrough to strikeEgypt, and when he sees593thebloodonthe top of the doorframeand the twoside posts, thenthe Lordwill pass overthe door, and he willnotpermitthe destroyer594to enteryour housestostrikeyou.59512:24You must observethiseventas an ordinancefor you and for your childrenforever.12:25Whenyou enterthe landthatthe Lordwill giveto you, justas he said, you must observe596thisceremony.12:26Whenyour childrenask you, ‘Whatdoes thisceremony mean to you?’597 –12:27then you will say, ‘It isthe sacrifice598of the Lord’sPassover, when he passedoverthe housesof the Israelitesin Egypt, when he struck599Egyptand deliveredour households.’” The peopleboweddown low600 to the ground,12:28and the Israeliteswentaway and didexactlyas the Lordhad commandedMosesand Aaron.601

12:29

The Deliverance from Egypt

It happened603at midnight– the Lordattackedallthe firstbornin the landof Egypt, from the firstbornof Pharaohwho satonhis thronetothe firstbornof the captivewhowas in the prison, and allthe firstbornof the cattle.12:30Pharaohgotup604 in the night,605along with allhis servantsand allEgypt, and there wasa greatcryin Egypt, forthere was nohouse606in whichtherewas notsomeone dead.12:31Pharaoh607 summonedMosesand Aaronin the nightand said, “Getup, get out608from amongmy people, bothyouand the Israelites! Go, servethe Lordas you have requested!60912:32Also, takeyour flocksand your herds, justas you have requested, and leave. But blessme also.”610

12:33The Egyptianswere urging611the peopleon, in order to sendthem outof the landquickly,612forthey were saying, “We are alldead!”12:34So the peopletooktheir doughbeforethe yeast was added,613with their kneading troughsbound upin their clothingontheir shoulders.12:35Now the Israeliteshad done614as Mosestold them – they had requested from the Egyptians615 silver and gold items and clothing.12:36The Lord616gavethepeoplefavor617in the sightof the Egyptians, and they gave themwhatever they wanted,618and so they plunderedEgypt.619

12:40Now the lengthof time the Israeliteslivedin Egyptwas 430years.62912:41At the endof the 430years, on the veryday, allthe regiments630of the Lordwent outof the landof Egypt.12:42It wasa nightof vigilfor the Lordto bring them outfrom the landof Egypt,631and so632 on thisnightallIsraelis to keep the vigil633to the Lordfor generationsto come.

12:43

Participation in the Passover

The LordsaidtoMosesand Aaron, “Thisis the ordinanceof the Passover. Noforeignermay635 share in eatingit.63612:44But everyone’sservantwho is boughtfor money, after you have circumcisedhim, may eatit.12:45A foreignerand a hired workermust noteatit.12:46It must be eatenin onehouse; you must notbringanyof the meatoutsidethe house, and you must notbreaka boneof it.12:47The wholecommunityof Israelmust observeit.

12:48 “Whena foreignerlives637withyou and wants to observethe Passoverto the Lord, allhis malesmust be circumcised,638and thenhe may approachand observeit, and he will belike one who is bornin the land639 – but nouncircumcised personmay eatof it.12:49The same lawwillapply640 to the person who is native-bornand to the foreignerwho livesamongyou.”

The Law of the Firstborn

The Lordspoke643toMoses:13:2“Set apart644to me everyfirstborn male– the first offspringof everywomb645among the Israelites, whether humanor animal; it is mine.”646

13:3Mosessaidtothe people, “Remember647thisdayon whichyou came outfrom Egypt, from the place where you were enslaved,648forthe Lordbrought you outof there649 with a mightyhand– and nobread made with yeastmay be eaten.65013:4On this day,651in the monthof Abib,652youare going out.653

13:5When654the Lordbringsyou tothe landof the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and Jebusites, whichhe sworeto your fathersto giveyou, a landflowingwith milkand honey,655then you will keep656thisceremony657in thismonth.13:6For sevendays658you must eat659bread made without yeast, and onthe seventhdaythere is to be660 a festivalto the Lord.13:7Bread made without yeastmust be eaten661for sevendays;662nobread made with yeastshall be seen663among you, and you must have noyeastamong you within anyof your borders.

13:8You are to tellyour son664on that day,665 ‘It is666becauseof what667the Lorddidfor me when I came outof Egypt.’13:9668It669 will bea sign670for you onyour handand a memorial671on your forehead,672sothat the lawof the Lordmay be673in your mouth,674for675with a mightyhandthe Lordbrought you outof Egypt.13:10So you must keep676thisordinanceat its appointedtimefrom year to year.677

13:11Whenthe Lordbringsyou678 intothe landof the Canaanites,679ashe sworeto you and to your fathers, and givesit680 to you,13:12then you must give over681to the Lordthe first offspringof everywomb.682Everyfirstling683ofa beastthatyou have684 – the maleswill bethe Lord’s.68513:13Everyfirstling686of a donkeyyou must redeem687with a lamb, and ifyou do notredeemit, then you must break its neck.688Everyfirstbornof689 your sonsyou must redeem.

In the future,691whenyour sonasksyou692 ‘Whatis this?’693 you are to tellhim, ‘With a mightyhand694the Lordbrought us outfrom Egypt, from the land of slavery.69513:15WhenPharaohstubbornlyrefused696 to releaseus, the Lordkilledallthe firstbornin the landof Egypt, from the firstbornof peopletothe firstbornof animals.697That is whyI amsacrificing698to the Lordthe first maleoffspringof everywomb, but allmy firstbornsonsI redeem.’13:16It will befor a signonyour handand for frontlets699on your forehead, forwith a mightyhandthe Lordbrought us outof Egypt.”700

13:20They journeyedfrom Sukkothand campedin Etham, on the edgeof the desert.13:21Now the Lordwas goingbeforethem by dayin a pillarof cloudto leadthem in the way, and by nightin a pillarof fireto give them light,717sothat they could718 traveldayor night.71913:22He did notremovethe pillarof cloudby daynor the pillarof fireby nightfrom beforethe people.720

14:1

The Victory at the Red Sea

The LordspoketoMoses:14:2“Tellthe Israelitesthat they must turnand camp722beforePi-hahiroth, betweenMigdoland the sea; you are to campbythe seabeforeBaal Zephonoppositeit.72314:3Pharaohwill think724 regarding the Israelites, ‘They arewanderingaround confused725in the land– the deserthas closedin onthem.’72614:4I will harden727Pharaoh’sheart, and he will chaseafterthem. I will gain honor728because of Pharaohand because of allhis army, and the Egyptianswill know729thatI amthe Lord.” So this is whatthey did.730

14:5When it was reported731to the kingof Egyptthatthe peoplehad fled,732the heartof Pharaohand his servantswas turned againstthe people, and the king and his servants said,733 “Whatin the world have we done?734 Forwe have releasedthe people of Israel735from servingus!”14:6Then he prepared736his chariotsand tookhis army737withhim.14:7He tooksixhundredselect738chariots, and allthe rest of the chariotsof Egypt,739and officers740onallof them.

14:8Butthe Lordhardenedthe heartof Pharaohkingof Egypt, and he chasedafterthe Israelites. Now the Israeliteswere going outdefiantly.74114:9The Egyptianschasedafterthem, and allthe horsesand chariotsof Pharaohand his horsemenand his armyovertookthem campingby the sea, besidePi-hahiroth, beforeBaal-Zephon.14:10When742 Pharaohgot closer,743 the Israeliteslookedup,744 and therewere the Egyptiansmarchingafterthem,745 and they wereterrified.746The Israelitescried outtothe Lord,74714:11and they saidtoMoses, “Is it becausethere are nogravesin Egyptthat you have takenus away to diein the desert?748 Whatin the world749have you doneto us by bringing750 us outof Egypt?14:12Isn’t thiswhatwe toldyou751 in Egypt, ‘Leaveus aloneso that we can servethe Egyptians,752becauseit is betterfor us to serve753the Egyptiansthan to diein the desert!’”754

14:15The LordsaidtoMoses, “Whydo you cry outto me? Tellthe Israelitesto moveon.76314:16And as for you,764lift upyour staffand extendyour handtoward the seaand divideit, so that765 the Israelitesmay go throughthe middleof the seaon dry ground.14:17And as for me, I amgoingto harden766theheartsof the Egyptiansso that767 they will comeafterthem, that I may be honored768because769 of Pharaohand his armyand his chariotsand his horsemen.14:18And the Egyptianswill know770thatI amthe Lordwhen I have gained my honor771because of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

14:19The angelof God, who was goingbeforethe campof Israel, movedand went behindthem, and the pillar772of cloudmovedfrom beforethem and stoodbehindthem.14:20It camebetweenthe Egyptiancampand the Israelitecamp; it wasa darkcloud773and it litup thenightso that onecampdid notcome nearthe other774the wholenight.77514:21Mosesstretchedout his handtoward the sea, and the Lorddrovethe seaapart776 by astrongeastwindallthat night, and he madetheseainto dry land, and the waterwas divided.14:22So the Israeliteswentthrough the middleof the seaon dry ground, the waterforming a wall777for them on their rightand on their left.

14:23The Egyptianschasedthem and followedthem intothe middleof the sea– allthe horsesof Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.14:24In the morningwatch778the Lordlookeddown779 on the Egyptianarmy780through the pillarof fireand cloud, and he threw theEgyptianarmy781into a panic.78214:25He jammed783 the wheelsof their chariotsso that they had difficultydriving,784 and the Egyptianssaid, “Let’s flee785from Israel, forthe Lordfights786for them against Egypt!”

14:26The LordsaidtoMoses, “Extendyour handtoward the sea, so that the watersmay flow787 backonthe Egyptians, ontheir chariots, and ontheir horsemen!”14:27So Mosesextendedhis handtoward the sea, and the seareturnedto its normalstate788whenthe sun began to rise.789 Now the Egyptianswere fleeing790before it, but the Lordoverthrew791theEgyptiansin the middleof the sea.14:28The waterreturnedand coveredthechariotsand thehorsemenand allthe armyof Pharaohthat was comingafterthe Israelites into the sea792 – notso much asoneof them survived!79314:29But the Israeliteswalkedon dry groundin the middleof the sea, the waterforming a wallfor them on their rightand on their left.14:30So the Lordsaved794Israelon that dayfrom the power795of the Egyptians, and Israelsawthe Egyptiansdead796onthe shoreof the sea.14:31When Israelsaw797the greatpower798thatthe Lordhad exercised799over the Egyptians, they800fearedthe Lord, and they believedin801 the Lordand in his servantMoses.802